(1)

Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) is not listed as a Union quarantine pest, protected zone quarantine pest or as a Union regulated non-quarantine pest in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (3).

(2)

In 2016, Italy informed the Commission that Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) was first found in its territory in a rice-producing area of Northern Italy. Since then, it has also been found in additional rice fields and the most serious infestations led to crop losses of up to 50 % of the ordinary production.

(3)

In 2017, Italy adopted official measures to prevent the further introduction and spread within its territory of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) (4). Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) is mainly associated with rooted plants of Oryza sativa L. that have been grown in soil and are intended for planting. It is also associated with other host plants, such as barley, but to a lesser extent than with rooted plants of Oryza sativa L.

(4)

Italy is currently the only Member State where the presence of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) has been confirmed. Based on a risk assessment carried out by Italy in 2018 (5), it is concluded that that pest fulfils the criteria set out in Subsection 2 of Section 3 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031. It is therefore deemed necessary to adopt temporary measures against that pest. Those measures should take account of the major pathways for its spread, such as plants for planting, soil, machinery and tools, and human-assisted transfer.

(5)

In a certain region within that rice-producing area of Italy, it has been concluded that the eradication of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) is no longer possible. Italy should therefore be allowed to apply measures for its containment within that region, instead of eradication. Those measures should be aimed at keeping the levels of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) stable. However, if surveys show an increase of the levels of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield), measures aimed at its eradication should be applied to reduce its levels again and prevent its spread.

(6)

Member States should inform the general public and relevant professional operators about the threat of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) and the measures taken against it to ensure a more effective approach by all persons possibly concerned. In particular, Member States should raise awareness about the danger of its spread through footwear and vehicles, because those means are most commonly used by the general public.

(7)

Surveys should be carried out in the demarcated areas and on host plants outside those areas, in order to detect early the potential presence of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) and prevent its spread to the rest of the Union territory. Member States should conduct annual surveys based on an assessment of the risk of introduction of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield).

(8)

In view of the evidence from Italy and of the wide distribution of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) in rice-producing third countries, it is necessary to check that certain conditions were fulfilled in those third countries, with respect to the rooted plants for planting of Oryza sativa L., prior to their introduction into the Union. In particular, those conditions should concern the freedom of the site or place of production from the pest, the official inspections to be carried out and the necessary declarations on the phytosanitary certificate. These conditions are necessary to ensure freedom of those plants from Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield).

(9)

Furthermore, it is necessary that, at arrival, rooted plants for planting of Oryza sativa L. are visually inspected and, where showing symptoms of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield), sampled and tested for the presence of that pest, in order to identify its possible presence or ascertain its absence.

(10)

Measures should also be provided for the movement within the Union of rooted plants of Oryza sativa L. that originate in the Union. In order to ensure the appropriate level of phytosanitary protection, the movement of those plants and soil from the demarcated areas to the rest of the Union territory should be prohibited.

(11)

This Regulation should apply for an adequate length of time to allow for its review and the review of the presence and the spread of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield).

(12)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

(1)

‘the specified pest’ means Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield);

(2)

‘specified plants’ means plants for planting, other than seeds, with roots of Oryza sativa L., that have been grown in soil;

(3)

‘host plants’ means plants for planting with roots of the genera and species listed in Annex I, that have been grown in soil;

(4)

‘volunteer host plants’ means host plants which appear in the places of production without having been planted;

(5)

‘specified seeds’ means seeds of Oryza sativa L.;

(6)

‘specified objects’ means machinery, tools, vehicles, and personal equipment, which have been used for activities relating to the planting, treatment or harvesting of the host plants;

(7)

‘demarcated area’ means the area consisting of an infested zone and a buffer zone that is established when the specified pest has been found;

(8)

‘infested zone’ means a zone in which the field or fields of Oryza sativa L. contains:

(9)

‘buffer zone’ means a zone of a width of at least 100 m, surrounding the infested zone;

(10)

‘trap-crop method’ means the method under which certain specified plants are temporarily planted in an infested field, in order to trap the specified pest, and later removed and destroyed, for the purpose of protecting in the same field other specified plants from that pest.

(1)

the specified plants in the infested zone shall be removed and destroyed in fields close to harvesting. The specified plants shall be destroyed, in situ or in a nearby location designated for this purpose within the infested zone, in a manner ensuring that the specified pest is not spread;

(2)

specified seeds shall not be sown and host plants shall not be planted in the infested zone;

(3)

volunteer host plants shall be regularly eliminated;

(4)

fields in the infested zone shall be continuously flooded for more than 18 months. If continuous flooding is not possible, the trap-crop method, or other methods preventing the pest from concluding its life cycle, shall be applied;

(5)

specified plants that are used for the trap-crop method shall be destroyed within 5 weeks after planting;

(6)

specified objects that have been used in an infested zone shall be cleaned from soil and plant debris before being moved to the surrounding fields. During cleaning, residue dispersal out of the infested field shall be avoided.

(1)

the specified plants which have been produced in a pest-free place or a pest-free site of production are officially inspected at that place or site of production, at the most appropriate time for detecting symptoms of infection during the last complete cycle of vegetation prior to the export, and are found free from the specified pest;

(2)

official inspections were carried out at the most appropriate time for detecting symptoms of infection during the last complete cycle of vegetation prior to the export in a zone with a width of at least 100 m and surrounding the place or site of production referred to in point (1);

(3)

any specified plants in the zone surrounding the pest-free place or pest-free site of production showing symptoms of infection during those inspections were immediately destroyed;

(4)

the specified plants are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate including, in accordance with Article 71(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, under the heading ‘Additional declaration’, one of the following statements:

(*1)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1372 of 5 August 2022 as regards temporary measures to prevent the entry into, the movement and spread within, the multiplication and release in the Union of Meloidogyne graminicola (Golden & Birchfield) (OJ L 206, 8.8.2022, p. 16).’;"

(5)

the phytosanitary certificate accompanying specified seeds originating in third countries includes, under the heading ‘Additional declaration’, the information that the seeds are free from soil and debris.